what did u think? muffin the mule

[truangel]

has anyone seen the new muffin the mule cartoons? what do u think. i like them but never seent the original series on in the fifties. did they do the right thing by bringing it back or shud it have been left in the fifties?

[bernardo]

?! Oh! I don't know anything about any new cartoon. I haven't seen it, but I guess that it's not a good idea. The whole point about Muffin the Mule is the nostalgic memory of the clumsy rattling wooden puppet and the obviously-visible strings. (Even for those of us who were born more than a decade after he was on TV.)

[truangel]

thanks for comment i really like the cartoon version just wanted 2 see what every1 else thought

[greenfingers]

I watched the original one as a child and it seemed wonderful to me then but when I watch the new series with my grand daughter I realise that todays children would find the old Muffin very basic!

[maggie01]

I'd have to agree with greenfingers. It's probably a bit outdated now although I haven't seen the new cartoon. I can't remember who used to work with the puppet years ago but I remember going to the toy shop and my mum and dad buying me one of the puppets for my birthday.

[Narolines]

Annette Mills played the piano and did the interplay with Muffin, and he was operated by Ann Hogarth and/or Jan Bussell. IMHO Muffin shouldn't have been messed about with - neither should Andy Pandy or The Flowerpot Men. Marionettes are SUPPOSED to be on strings - that's what makes them marionettes! But then, I'm a puppet-maker by profession, so I suppose I'm biased...........I could go on for hours about classic puppets and the technicalities of staging puppetry - but I won't (you'll be relieved to hear).

[Narolines]

Incidentally, maggie, if that was one of the old die-cast Muffins, and you've still got it, and it's in good nick, and has its original strings & finger rings, and still has its original tail, and is in its original box, it's worth a bob or two now. If any of the above doesn't apply it will reduce its value, but it's probably worth more to you in sentimental avalue anyway if you've still got it.

[truangel]

hi the reason i posted this question is because my dad is a animator and his company is the one who made and directed the new cartoons. within the first wekk muffin went to the top of the childrens charts and is very popular. but i appriciate you comments thank you. xx

[tonymclark]

I have seen the new show, and it is great that a new generation can grow up with Muffin. Being born in the 1960's, I don't remember the original, though I have seen it.

There is no way the content of new version would be made like the old, TV is faster paced now.

The only remakes that capture the spirit of the old, are those shows made by/with people involved with the originals, like the new Roobarb, "Roobarb and Custard Too", and the new "Willo the Wisp".

As the saying goes, Nostalga isn't what it use to be...